Every year, thousands of travellers are detained travelling abroad. While cases range from minor incidents (mischief, talking back to authorities) to more serious offences (violence, drugs), the general rule when you’re travelling in another country is that you must abide by the rules of the country as long as you’re within its borders.
Sure, other countries and cultures may have some strange customs and laws – but it never hurts to know what you should expect. A cultural faux-pas is one thing but getting into trouble with authorities is another issue completely.
So, here’s what you need to know about how to avoid getting into legal problems when you’re travelling abroad – and what to do if you find yourself in jail in a foreign country.
1) Avoid trouble: Never assume that laws in a country are like the ones back home. Your best bet to avoid legal problems abroad is to avoid things like drugs, sex tourism, carrying items for strangers, talking back to authorities, getting into fights, and etc. Abiding by local customs will also help and keep you off the radar of authorities.
2) Get familiar with local laws & customs: Read up-to-date, reliable travel guides on the destination(s) you are visiting. Not only do these travel guides help you research and plan your trip, but they also give you an introduction on what to expect as well as warnings about laws, customs, and norms.
Travel guides and websites like the Canadian Government’s www.voyage.gc.ca can tell you about situations to avoid and watch out for as a foreigner in that country. For example: getting into car accidents in Cuba, not displaying a travel sticker on your car windshield in Switzerland, overt nudity during Mardi Gras, and carrying drugs in Thailand are all known incidents to watch out for to avoid any brushes with authorities.
3) Connect with your embassy: Register with your embassy whenever/wherever you’re travelling (at least when you’re in a potentially risky country) and always have your embassy’s local phone number with you. If you get into legal trouble abroad, ask to contact a consular officer and they can give you advice on how to proceed.
Your embassy can’t get you a “get out of jail free” card, but they will be able to provide you with a lawyer in your own language, help you communicate with officials, assist in getting in touch with your family, financial assistance, and etc. Go to www.voyage.gc.ca for Canadian embassy info worldwide.
4) Stay calm & collected: If you get arrested abroad, stay calm, be as polite as possible, and don’t panic or give into intimidation by police. This is easier said than done, especially if corruption is a factor – but worth your while to show cooperation rather than anger – it will help you in the end. Ask about how you should proceed. Depending on the country you are being detained in, you may or may not have the same rights to a phone call or counsel – but the more cooperative you are, the more lenient authorities may be.
5) What to expect: For minor offences, you will likely be able to get out by paying a fine or bail. In some cases, you might be able to pay off the police officer before you even reach jail – this is actually customary in some countries. For more serious issues, you may have to wait for a trial to sort out the issues in court – a process that could take months, depending on the justice system.